Easy opening container

ABSTRACT

An easy opening container having a score line formed along the chuck wall of the end closure to eliminate sharp exposed edges after separation of the end closure panel along the score line.

United States Patent Inventor Thomas R. Stanley Brookiield, Ill. App]. No. 6,027 Filed Jan. 22, 1970 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 Assignee Continental Can Company, Inc.

New York, N.Y. a corporation of New York Continuation of application Ser. No. 795,809, Feb. 3, 1969, now abandoned EASY OPENING CONTAINER 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 220/54 511 1111. C1 ..B65d 17/24 50 FieldofSearch 220/54,48, 27;2l5/46 {5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,409,166 11/1968 LaCroce etal 220 54 3,419,181 12/1968 Stec 220/54 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorneys-Fred P. Kostka, William A. Dittmann and Joseph E. Kerwin ABSTRACT: An easy opening container having a score line 1 formed along the chuck wall of the end closure to eliminate sharp exposed edges after separation of the end closure panel along the score line.

PATENTEI] JAN28 1971 IN VEN TOR v THOMAS R. STANLEY JAZZ W ATT'Y.

EASY OPENING CONTAINER This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 795,809, filed Feb. 3, I969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to easy opening containers and more particularly to a new and improved easy opening container having a panel portion separable from the end panel of an end closure of the container to provide an panel opening substantially the same size as the end of the container.

Heretofore, full opening easy open ends have been fonned by scoring the metal end panel as close as possible to the chuck wall of the end member of the container. Upon removable of the separable panel structure along the score line a small horizontal edge terminating in a sharp edge remains on the end closure. This edge is exposed to objects inserted into the container and also to the user's hands and fingers should they be extended into the opening. The sharp edge may scratch the object or cause injury to the users hands or fingers.

To minimize the hazard of scratching or injury, it has been proposed to insert protective sleeves or rings within the container so that the inner periphery projects outwardly of the ledge so as to prevent contact therewith. However, these inserts may require container structure modifications which increase the unit cost of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By the present invention, it it proposed to provide a new and improved full easy opening container of the full opening type in which the container is constructed so as to eliminate the horizontal ledge and the resulting sharp edges as formed heretofore.

This is accomplished generally by the provision of a pair of score lines of which one score line is discontinuous and formed in the panel of the end closure unit so as to provide a partially removable panel which is initially separated from the panel and connected to the chuck wall and the other score line is continuous and disposed on the chuck wall so that upon the application of a pulling force to the partially separated panel portion the chuck wall attached thereto is separated from the container. In this manner, the horizontal ledge of the end closure panel is eliminated and removed with the chuck wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the easy opening structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the container showing the container in a partially open position.

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of a container.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the container showing the central panel portion during the initial severance of the end structure from the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Preferring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an easy opening container generally designated by the reference character and which is illustrated as being formed of a conventional type of can. The container 10 includes a conventional can body 11 to which there is secured by means of a double seam 13, an easy opening end closure 12 which is formed in accordance with the structure of the present invention. The container or can 10 includes a conventional can body 11 which has the lower end thereof closed in the normal manner.

The end closure 12 includes an end panel 14 which is disposed in depressed relationship with respect to double seam 13 as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The end panel 14 is joined to double seam portion by an upstanding chuck wall 15.

The end panel 14 is provided with a peripheral weakening line in the form of the score 16 which terminates in two ends 17 along the end to provide an integral connecting portion 18 and defines a partially removable panel portion 19. The partially removable panel portion 19 is bendable about the integral connecting portion I8 as shown in FIG. 2 and as more full to be explained hereinafter. It is to be noted that the partially removable panel portion 19 constitutes a major portion of the area of the end panel I4.

The score line 16 is preferably is formed in the end panel 14 by a punching operation utilizing a conventional type of scoring die not shown. The result in score line may be of a generally trapezoidal cross section as shown. In as much as the score line I6 is formed by a punching or pressing operation there is no removal of metal. The punching or pressing causes the metal of the end panel 14 to be compressed so that the metal in the vicinity of the score 16 is subjected to highly concentrated internal stresses. This concentration of stress forces may result in premature fracture.

To eliminate or relieve the stresses at the score line I6, there is provided an antifracture score 21. The antifracture score 21 is formed in the removable panel portion 19 in close proximity to the score line 16. However, the antifracture score 21 is shallower than the weakening score line I6 as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the rupture occurs only at the latter.

The score lines 16 and 21 are formed simultaneously by a punching or pressing operation during which the metal of the end panel is compressed and closed generally laterally. The simultaneous score forming operation results in an improved distribution of the internal compressive tresses at the score line 116 so that fracture is minimized.

Attached to partially removable panel portion 19 as by means of a rivet 20, which may be formed integral therewith, is a pull tab 22. The attachment of pull tab tab 22 and the removable panel portion 19 is such that the pull tab 22 is tiltable from the normal position shown to be capable of functioning as a lever. The pull tab 22 is constructed so as to provide a rigid nose 23 which overlies the score 16 so that upon tilting the tab 22, the nose 23 penetrates the score 16 and separates the adjacent partially removable panel portion 19 from the end panel 14 as shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a means for completely separating the end panel 14 and the chuck wall 15 from the container so as to eliminate all sharp edges which may be contacted upon insertion of articles or the hands into the open end of the container. This is accomplished by the provision of a score line 24 formed in the chuck wall along the upper top edge of the end closure adjacent to the flange 26 forming the double seam 13. As shown, the score line 24 is continuous and is substantially the same depth as the primary score 16. Preferably, the scores 16 and 24 and the antifracture score 21 are formed in the end closure 12 prior to double seaming the latter of the end closure.

To open the easy opening end 12 the pull tab 22 is initially tilted upwardly so that the nose 23 formed thereon applies a force on the score line to initially sever or separate the partially removable panel lying adjacent thereto from the remainder of the panel by bending this portion downwardly as shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, an upward force is applied on the pull tab 22 to sever the remainder of the partially removable panel portion 19 along the score line 16 whereupon it is bent upwardly about the unscored portion 18 as shown in FIG. 2.

The pull tab 22 is then pulled upwardly and away from the unscored portion 18 so that a separating force is imposed on the score 24 lying immediately opposite thereto. This causes the removable panel portion 19 and the attached chuck wall I5 to be separated from the remainder of the container as shown. Complete separation of the chuck wall, of course, is achieved by continuing the pulling force until the entire length of the chuck wall is severed along the score 24. In this manner, the edge panel which remains on the container is not exposed to objects or the users fingers as occurred heretofore when only the panel was removed.

lclaim:

1. An easy opening container comprising a container body and an end closure doubled seamed on one end of said container, said end closure including a depressed panel portion and an integral upstanding peripheral chuck wall abutting the inner wall of said container body and overlying the end of said container, at first score formed in said panel and terminating in two spaced ends to define a partially removable panel portion and to provide an unscored portion integral with said chuck wall, a second score formed in said chuck wall and extending continuously thereabovut, and a pull tab attached to said partially removable panel portion for separating said partially removable panel portion along the full length of said first score line and separating said chuck wall from said container along the second score after said partially removable panel portion has been separated and a pulling force is applied thereto.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first score and second scores are of substantially the same depth.

3. The invention as defined in claim it wherein said second score is formed in the chuck wall portion overlying the end of said container body.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first score is formed in said panel concentric with said chuck wall and wherein said second score is formed in the chuck wall portion overlying the end of said container body.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein a score of lesser depth and extending substantially the full length of said first score and adjacent thereto is formed in said panel so as to relieve the stresses occurring at said first score 

1. An easy opening container comprising a container body and an end closure doubled seamed on one end of said container, said end closure including a depressed panel portion and an integral upstanding peripheral chuck wall abutting the inner wall of said container body and overlying the end of said container, a first score formed in said panel and terminating in two spaced ends to define a partially removable panel portion and to provide an unscored portion integral with said chuck wall, a second score formed in said chuck wall and extending continuously thereabout, and a pull tab attached to said partially removable panel portion for separating said partially removable panel portion along the full length of said first score line and separating said chuck wall from said container along the second score after said partially removable panel portion has been separated and a pulling force is applied thereto.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first score and second scores are of substantially the same depth.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said second score is formed in the chuck wall portion overlying the end of said container body.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first score is formed in said panel concentric with said chuck wall and wherein said second score is formed in the chuck wall portion overlying the end of said container body.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein a score of lesser depth and extending substantially the full length of said first score and adjacent thereto is formed in said panel so as to relieve the stresses occurring at said first score. 